Matthew 6:34 – Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (NKJV)

Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (NKJV)

Christians say that we trust in the Lord, but what does that really mean in practice? Recently, my neighbours, who took in an evacuee from a wildfire, were able to see the trust component of faith at work.

Elise, 90 years old, had made her confession of faith and began learning of God at the young age of 8, as she began to build a relationship of knowing Christ. Then, she became part of the Child Evangelism Fellowship. She continued in church ministry all of her life. While building her faith and delighting in the Lord, she learned that God is always reliable and stands by His Word, time after time. She turned to Him instead of to people who tried to influence her the opposite way. She walked through each challenge of life following God's lead while her confidence and dependence on Him grew. She learned that it was wiser to trust in His understanding than in her own.

Having to move to a place of safety from the wildfire, she is confident that God has the resources to best handle the situation in His plan and purpose, which means that even if her home and mementoes of family history burn, He will carry her forward within His plan. She trusts that she will never be separated from His love. She knows and accepts His pattern of faithfulness, and she comments softly, "Everything will be all right."

While Elise is with my neighbours, she is spending much of her time resting comfortably, showing no sign of fear or anxiety, as she leans back in a big recliner chair in their living room. She trusts in and waits on the Lord to handle the situation. Because of her trust, she can accept whatever is to come.

Doing well for her age, as she waits to hear news, she shows no sign of anxiety, turmoil, disorientation, fear, or other signs of worry. Her years of walking along God's pathway have taught her that she can depend on and trust Him. Her heart is prepared to accept whatever outcome He provides. She prays and reflects on God's promises and protection over her life as she reclines in her friend's big chair. She has a knowing that all is well with her soul. As she has said before, "God knows best."

What a blessed example Elise is setting for my friend. What wisdom she is sharing by her presence in my friend's home. May we all learn to understand how to trust our Saviour as Elise does as she relaxes and waits upon the Lord, her soul at rest in her friend's big chair.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, give us Christ's courage to do what we are called to do in a crisis. May we relinquish our control, trust in Your outcome, and let go of our own mindset so that we can replace it with the mind of Christ, Who trusts You perfectly. Amen.

P.S.: After three days, Elise, filled with gratitude, returned to her home that had suffered only slight smoke damage.

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About the author:

Karen Milam <karenbmilam@gmail.com>
Penn Valley, California, USA
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